Advertising device



Sept l5, 1925.

` 1,553,302 T. ALLATT ADVERTI SING DEVICE Filed me. 29. 192s 2 Snom-sum 1 @BEM M df .vsATToRNEYs sept 15, 192s. 1,553,302

T. ALLATT ADVERTISING DEVI'GE Filed Dac. 29. 1923 2 Shutshnt 2 INVENTOR LT1 Jfvum;v MW

BY m2, 9' ZM @ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

"THOMAS" ALLATT, or wEsTEIEnD, NEW JERSEY.

vAnvEya'rIs'nvs DEVICE.

Application ledDecember 29, 1923. Serial No. 683,336.

To all whom t may concer/1n:

Be it it known that I, THoMAs ALLATT, a subject of Great Britain, residing at l/Vestfield, in the countyy of Union, State of VNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Advertising Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeV and use the same.

This invention relates to advertising devices and has to do more particularly with a device of the type "generally, referred to as a moving sign.l Y

Such devices ordinarily consist of a casing having a display aperture, and across this aperture is moved a strip or tape on which the advertisement appears. In one form of device the tape used is endless and the driving mechanism is so arranged that the tape continually moves in one direction across the opening. The slack ofthe tape is supported by suitable guides 4which direct it in a tortuous path. Y l

In another form of machine the tapel is carried on a pair of spools or cores and is vound from one to the other. In this form of apparatus an automatic reversing mec-hanismv is provided so that when thetape has been entirely wound onone spool thel driving devices are reversed -and the tape is rewound upon the first spool.

In devices of the type just referred'to the tape which Vcarries the advertisement passes across the display opening in a horizontal direction and the advertising matter is conveniently read only when the tape is moving from right to left, since this gives the same effect as if the observer were to pass-his eye across a stationary tape in the reverse direction. In this form of kmechanism when the tape has all been transferred from one spool to the other' and Vhas'p'assed in this movement across the aperture from right to left, it follows that the words appearing on the tape cannot be easily read in the reverse movement ofthe tape. If the advertisement is to be of considerable length or is to be repeated many times, it is necessary to employ a tape of great length and this requires that the spools on which the tape is to be wound should have an excessive storage capacity. This form of mechanism, however, is on the whole considerably simpler4 than one in which an endless tape is used since, as'fhas previously been described, provision mustl be made for .the slacl; of the tape and consequentlywhen a new tape is to'be placedin the machine so as to present new advertising matter, the threading of the tape 'throught-he various guides which are necessary is quite complicated f and difficult.

The use of a mechanism employing a tape which is wound from one spoolV to the other and Vthen automatically rewound is'I much c simpler in construction and it is much easier tol change the ,tape/whenever occasion demands.l This form of device, however, has the objectionable feature above pointed out; that is, during the rewinding of the y tape-'the message cannot easily be read. v

The-present invention is'intended to provide an advertising device having a tape wound and rewound on a pair of spools which overcomes theV objectionable feature above referred to, and which permits of the exposure of a portion of the tape which is always moving in the direction 4for easy reading, regardless of which spool the tape the present invention the tape passes across the aperture'fromlone spool to the other in and in this way during both the first wind-x ing and thereversal there isexposed a moving tape which passes in the direction across the aperture from right to left. In this machine, since both the front and rear portions of the tape are alternately exposed, it is possible to use tape which carries advertising matter on4 both faces and consequently an advertisement of .double length may be carried on the tape. In this machine a new tape may be mounted in place with Vgreat convenience and when once the machine is startedy the operation of the several parts is automatic and requires no attention.

- Ihe principles of the invention may be is beingV woundf upon. v.In the machine of utilized vin many different forms of apparatus, but in the accompanyingdrawings there is illustrated one form of device embodying the invention. In these drawings,`

Fig. 1 is a face viewof the device showing the aperture and the tape, v

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device with the cover removed,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. y4 is another sectional; view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2,

Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the tape and the means by which the tapeis secured to one lofV the spools respectively.

In these drawings the device is seen to consist of a housingv7' having a'removable 4cover 8. 'In the front wall of this housing is an aperture 9 ofany convenient size, but here shownof a size sufficient to expose two stretches of the tape, lying side by side. This housing is :preferably closed by-ahpane of glass. l

Mounted in any convenient'location 'in 4the housing is a 4drivingmotor'10,'carry1ng a pulley 11, over which runsa belt-12. A supporting frame 13 is mounted in the housing and extends upwardlyY fromA the botto-m thereof. 1n this" support is carried, in suitable bearings, a horizontal shaft 14, carrying a grooved pulley 15 in which the belt travels. On the other end of this shaft is a beveled gear 16 andinounted vertically in the frame is a shaft 17. This shaft rests at its lowerl endagainst a circular' plate 18. Loosely mountedl oir the shaft near the upper end thereof below the top barof the frame, is a compound-gear'19 consisting of a beveled gear 2O meshing with the beveled gear 16, anda spur gear21. `Secured to rthe shaft 17 below the gear 21 isa bracket'22 having` apair of lateral arms 23v and 24. rThis `bracket is rigit secured to the shaft 17 andv through the ends ofthevarms is loosely mounted anfauxiliary sha-ft 25 carrying a pair of collars 26 which serve to hold itin place in the bracket. VThe shaft25 carries at its upper end above the upper arm 23, a spur gear 27 meshing ywith the similar gear 21 which forms a portion of the compound gear. At its lower end the shaft 25 carries a roller 28 which is preferably composed ofs'ome resilient material such as soft rubber. The circular plate 18 has an upstanding flange 29 at its periphery and the parts arev proportioned so that under certain conditions7 which willr later be described, the roller 28 will contact with the inner face of this flange -and as the shaft 25 is driven the roller will be caused to traverse the flange and'thus -cause the auxiliary shaft and the bracket to -rotate about the axis of the shaft 17.

Secured to the base on either side of the disc 18 are hollow spindles 30, 31. The

` the. plate 32.

lower end of the spindle 30 rests on a plate 32 secured in the base, and extending upwardly through this plate is a rod 33 carrying a collar 34 at its upper end which serves to keep tlierodispaced: from the inner surface of the spindle. At its lower end the spindle rests on a shoulder 35 formed on Formed integrally vwith the spindle is a flanged disc 36. The spindle 31 is of similar construction, resting -on a shoulder 37 on a plate .38 from'which extends upwardly a rod 39 carrying a collar 40 at itsupper end. This spindle also has formed integrally with it a vflanged Vdisc 41,*correspond'ing to thedisc 36. The upper surface ofthe discj36 is mounted to supportl a corr. A42 upon which the tape is to be wound, aswill present-'ly be described. This core has a bore 43 extending upwardlyifrom its lower surface in which is to be received a pin 44 'mounted in the disc, thepin serving to prevent the core fromy rotating relative to the disc. The spindle 31 ycarries la col` lar 45 which serves as a support for a'disc 46 on which a core47 is mounted, the disc having a pin 48 which extends into a bore in this core. p y y rEhe flanged discs 36 and 41 extend toward he plate 18 and the flange of the latter,Y as is shown in F 2, is cut-'away Vat 49 and 50jso that at these points the. peripheries of the discs will lie flush with the inner face of the flange 29 and thus be engaged by the roller 28 as the latter traverses this flange. Mounted 'on the flange, near the points at which the latter is cut away, are stops 51 and 52. These stops have portions 53 and 54' which extend inwardly beyond the face of the flange. VThe stops are in the form of levers pivoted at 55 and 56 respectively and'have projections 57 and 58 to which are secured the ends of lcoiled springs 59 and GO, theother ends being-secured toportions of the 'frame 13 at 61 and 62. VThe stop 52 has pivoted to it alever 63 by which it may be rocked'in themanner presently to be described, and-a similar lever 64 is rigidly connected to a portion of the stop 51. 'For this'purpose the stop may have a pin received in-an aperture in the end of the arm 64,' the latter having a set screw '64 bearing against the pin so ythat the stop and arm 64 are secured together=and movable as one. rFhe bracket 22 carries an arm 65 which is of sufficient length to engage the projecting portions 53v and 54 of the two stops and whenever this arm 65 lies against one stop or the other the roller 28 will be held opposite one of the cut-out portions of the flange-29 and will accordingly make contact with oneor the other ofthe discs 3G and 41, thus causing thespindlefassociated with that disc to be rotated.

The spindlesjhave beenl described as providing supports for cores 42 and 47. The

lli)

- core 47 normallyfcarriesl a tape 66 which is led from the core 47 overa roller 67 mounted in any convenient manner on the frame 13. From the roller.67 the tape passesto the upper one of a pair of rollers 68 and 69 mounted loosely on a shaft 70 in the forward part of the casing at one end ofthe aperture 9. These rollers are separated by a spacing disc 7l. From this roller the tape passes across the front of the aperture to the upper of a similar pair of vrollers indicated at 72. Thence the tape passes rearwardly over a roller 7 3 mounted in a bracket 74 secured to the bottom of the casing, thence rearwardly over an inclined guide 75. vThis guide is Vmounted* on a shaft 76V secured in a bracket 77 fastened to the base, and the shaft extends at anangleV of approximatelyV 45o upwardly from the base. The guide 75 is seen to have side flangesbetween which the tape passes, and, coming from the guide 75, the tape passes forwardly to the bottom roller of the :pair mounted at 72, thence across the aperture to the roller 69, thence rearwardly to thecore 42. It will be seen that the tape, in passing from one spool to the other, travels across the aperture intwo stretches. When the tape is being wound off the spool 47 upon-the spool 42, the upper stretch is moving from left to right and the lower stretch from right to left. It will also be seenY that in passing from the upper stretch to the lower stretch around the guide 75 the exposed face ofthe tape is reversed; that is, that face which lies to the front of the aperture in the upper stretch will have been turned toward theV rear'in the lower stretch. g

The mechanism by which the tape movement is reversed when all the tape has been wound on one spool is asfollows An arm 78, having a pair of pins located close together at its outer end is pivotally mounted at 80 in a suitable bracket secured to the (base.

' The tape passes between these pins in travelthis arm is an arm 81 which is pivotally con-- nected at its other end to the arm`64 and the connections are such that when the arm 78 is swung about itspivot in the direction yin which the tape is moving, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the stop 51 will be caused to rock on its pivot and thus permit the arm 65 to clear its end 53. Near the other end of the tape just before it passes onto thecore 42 is an arm 82 also carrying a pair of pins 83 placed close `together and through which the tape passes. This arm is .pivotally mounted at 84 on a suitable support on the v base and pivoted near its rear end is the arm 68 which is secured to the end of the stop 52. .Y I f Then the device is to be started the tape is led off through the various guides and in the path described, finally passing lto the core 42 where the end of'it is connected 'to a strap 85, one end of which is secured to the core. `This strap carries a bar 86, shown more clearly in Fig. 6, and the bar is of such sizek that it cannot pass between the pins 88. 'The core is channeled asat 87 so as to form a recess in which the bar will lie when the tape is wound on the core. yThe other end of the tape, as isV shown in Fig. 5, carries a bar 88,permanently secured to it and the core 47 is channeled as at 89 to form a recess in which this bar will normally lie when the tape is wound up. When the device is being operated, as the tape winds up on the core 42, eventually that portion of the tape carrying the bar 88 will'pass ofl' the core 47 around the guide 67 andthe bar 88 will come in contact with the pins 79. T his will cause the arm 78 to be rocked on its pivot 80, swinging the arm 8l, yarm 64 and stop l, and thus causing the end of the stop to clear the end of the arm 65.'.In the return movement of the tape the bar 86 striking the pins 83 causes a similar swinging of the bar 82, thus releasing the stop 52 and moving it from the bar of the arm 65.'v

The driving` mechanism has previously been described and under normalfcircumstances the shaft 14 which is continuously driven bythe motor will cause a rotation of the compound gear 19, this movement being transmitted through the gears 2() andA 27 to the shaft 25 and the roller 28. When the roller is held in position opposite one of the cut-out portions 49 or 50 of the flange 29 the roller Will contact with one or the other of the discs 36 or 41, thus causing that disc to be driven and the tape to be wound on the core associated with it. In Fig. 2 the roller is shown driving the disc 36 and thus the tape is being woundvon the core 42 off the core 47. The arm 65 is held against movement against the stop 51, and since the compound gear 19 is loose on the shaft 17 there is no tendency for the shaft to rotate. However, when the end of the tape has-been reached the bar 88 will strike the pins on the arm 78 and cause the stop 51 to be moved out of the path of the arm 65. The roller 28 will now ride off the exposed portion of the flange 36 and onto the inner face of the flange 29. In this movement the roller not only engages but traverses the flange 29 and thus causes the bracket to revolve about the axis of the shaft 17. The latter shaft on which the bracket is fast, is also caused to revolve and this movement continues until the arm strikes against the portion 54 of the other stop 52, at which time the roller 28 will lie opposite the cut-away portion 50 of the flange 29, and will thus contact with and drive the disc 41. When the disc 41 is driven the core 47 commences to revolve a'curtain 90 which is carried on the ends of a `pair of straps 91 and 92, the ends of 'Awhichfare secured to a pair of upstanding levers 93 -and 94. In Fig. 1 of the drawings Va. portion of the curtain has been broken away to show the stretch of tape beneath it. rFliese levers. are secured in a rod 95 loosely mounted in brackets in the bottom of the casing. An actuating lever 96' extends upwardly from this rod and to the upper end of the lever is secured a pitman 97, the rear end of which is secured to Va crank 9S mounted on the upper end of the'sliaft 17 above the frame 13. lt will be recalled that the shaft 17 is normally'stationary, except when the roller-28 is traversing the inner face of the tlange29, under which conditions the shaft is causedto rotateby reason of the movement of the bracket 22. vWhen the shaft 17 is 'so rotating the crank is brought into action and this causes the bar 95 to be rocked in Yits brackets. This, in turn, causes the-arms 93 and 94 to be swung toward or Iaway from the front wall of the casingand so take in or let out the straps 91 a-nd 92 which-extend forwardly and pass Overguides 99, thus moving the curtain 90 upwardly or` downwardly within the aperture. Theparts vare so constructed that the curtain will always be in position to cover that vstretch of the tape which is moving` from left to right and which, therefore, cannot be easilyread. In Fig. 1V the curtain is covering the upper stretch but when thel tape movement is reversed so that this upper stretch vis -moving from right to vleft and the lower Vin the opposite direction' the curtain will ybe dropped down so-as to conceal the lower stretch.

When the device is to be set up `a tape havingl the desired advertisement printed on it-and carried on a coresimilar to the core v47 will vbe mounted in place on the spindle 31. The end'of the tape will then be threadved through the variOuS'guideS, and, passing in 'a double 'stretch across the aperture 9, will beled to the core 42 where `it will be secured to the 'strap 85, the other end of which is permanently fastened to the core. `For convenience in threading the tape across the 4vvariousguldes there are provided doors 100 which conceal apertures 101 located `in theside walls ofthe housing near the front in such location'l that tlieguides4 68,69 andy 72 may be. easily reached. The driving mechanism will thenbe set by hand to bring the roller 28 against the disc 36. Then the motor willbeV 'started Aand this 'disc driven to wind the tape upon'the core of the spool 42. The tape continues to wind offY one spool upon-'the other vuntil:eventually-the block v88 will engage the -pins 79v on'the arm 78 and cause this arm tov swing thus'momentar'ily rendering the' 'stop 51 inoperative. The roller will move out vof Aengagement-withthe surface of' the disc, and moving in a clock-wise direction, as illustrated in Fig. 2, willeventually come into contact with the disc 41 'where lit is 'held' by the engagement ofthe arm`65 with the other stop The'disc41'is. now driven and the direction ofthetape is accordinglyreversed and it is'now wound 'off' the vspool 42 onto thevr spool47. 'This movementcontinues until the end of thetape isl reached, when the reversing mechanism again'operates and the tape starts to move in 'its V.original direction. The winding'of the tape from'one spool to the other will continue as longas the motor is driven. llitheach'reversal of the tape the curtain willbe' brought into action to conceal the stretch which ismoving` in such direction that the .characters on it cannot easily be read;"that is, fromfleft to right, and since in theseltwo stretches opposite faces of the tape are placed toward the ropening in the housingA it is clear that it is possible to'use a tape both lfaces of which carry advertising jmatter. Thus a tape suitablefor' use inthis machine will carry twice asmuch advertising matter ascould Vbe carried by a' tape used in the ordinary machine in which the mechanism is similarly1 reversed when the end of the tape has been reaches. 'Also' 1n thus exposing both Yfaces of the tape thatportion ofthe sign which may be observed is always moved in the directionjwhich kpermits the matter to be .easily read. vlhen the advertisement is to be changed, 'thetape isv all wound on the spool 47 'which is then vslipped off its spindle, and a spool carrying a tape having a different advertisement issubstituted for it and led through the various. guides and connected to the strap on the other spool. vThese tapes are easilyv printed and usually a number of them will 'be prepared for 'use in a machine and the advertisement or display will be changed froml time to time, as may be desired. AThe mechanism is'all Vself-contained, and since it isautomatic in action it requires no attention except when lthe tapes are to be removed and otherssubstituted.

1I claim: l

1. ln ana'dvertising device, the combination of a housing Vhaving an aperture, a pair of vspools within the housing, a tape connectllO ed to the spools and adapted to be wound olf one spool and on the other, this tape having characters on both faces arranged transversely of the length of the tape and forming a message, the words of which follow each other in succession and lie lengthwise of the tape, means for driving the spools alternately, and means for guiding the tape across the aperture in two oppositely moving stretches on which the characters are in upright position and on one of which the words of the message are successively exposed through the aperture in thev normal order for reading.

2. In an advertising device, the combination of a housing having an aperture, a pair of spools within the housing, a tape connected to the spoolsand adapted to be wound ofl' one spool and on the other', this tape having characters on both faces arranged transversely of the length of the tape and forming a message, the words of which follow each otherin succession and lie lengthwise of the tape, means for driving the spools alternately, and means for guiding the tape across the aperture yin twofoppositely moving stretches, in one of which the front face of the tape is exposed, in the other the rear face, the tape being so guided that the characters on it are in upright position and on one of the stretches the words forming the message are successively exposed through the aperture in normal reading order.

3. In an advertising device, the combination of a housing having an aperture, a pair of upright spools within the housing, a tape connected to the spools and adapted to be wound oftl one spool and on the other, this tape having characters on bot-h faces arranged transversely of the length of the tape and forming a message, the words of which, follow each other in a single series and lie lengthwise of the tape, the normal reading order of the words of the messages on opposite faces of the tape being reversed, means for guiding the tape across the aperture in.

oppositely moving stretches, in one of which the front face of the tape is exposed, in the other the rear face, means for driving the spools alternately and means for concealing the stretch of tape in which the words of the message are successively exposed in an order the reverse of the normal reading order.

4. In an advertising device, the combination of a housing having an aperture, a pair of upright spools with-in the'housing, atape connected to the spools and adapted to be wound off one spool and on the other, this tape having characters arranged transversely of the length of the tape forming a message, the words of which follow) each other in a single series and lie lengthwise of the tape, means for alternately driving the spools with a continuous rotary movement, means for guiding the tape aqloss the .aperture in two oppositely moving horizontal stretches, and means for concealing the stretch in which the words of the message are successively exposed in an order the reverse of the normal reading order.

5. In an advertising device, the combination of a housing having a horizontal aperture, al pair of upright spools in the housing, a tape connected at its ends to the spools and adapted to be wound off one and on the other, this tape carrying characters arranged transversely of the length of the tape and forming a message, the words of which follow each other in succession and lie lengthwise of the tape, means for driving the spools alternately, guides for directing the tape lengthwise of the housing in oppositely moving horizontal stretches, a curtain for concealing one of these stretches, and means for automatically reversing the direction of tape movement when a predetermined length has been wound off either spool.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housing having an aperture, a pair of spools within the housing, tape connected at its ends to the spools and adapted to be wound oflI one on the other, means for driving the spools, means for guiding the tape across the aperture in oppositely moving stretches, means for concealing one of the stretches, means for automatically reversing the direction of movement and for causing the concealing means to conceal the other stretch upon such reversal.

7. In an advertising device, the combination of a housing having a horizontal aperture, a pair of upright spools within the housing, a tape connected to the spools and adapted to be wound olf one spool and on the other, this tape bearing characters transversely disposed on the tape forming a message, `the words of which extend in a single series and lie lengthwise of the tape, guides for directing the tape across the aperture in horizontal, oppositely moving stretches, one above the other, and means for alternately driving the spools,

8. In an advertising device, the combination of a housing having an aperture, a pair of spools within the housing, a tape connected at its ends to the spools and adapted to be wound oft' one spool and on the other, this tape carrying characters arranged transversely of the length of the tape and forming a message, the words'of which follow each other in a single series and lie lengthwise of the tape, guides for directing the tape across the aperture in Vtwo oppositely .moving horizontal stretches, one above the other, a curtain for concealing that stretch of the tape on which the words are successively exposed in an order the reverse of the normal reading order, means for reversing the direction of tape movement when a predetermined .length of tare has been Wound on either Aspool, and :means rendered operative' by the reversing means, for moving the curtain to conceal the other stretch of the tape.

9. In a device of the class described,the combination of a housing, a pair of spools -Within the housing, a'tape connected at its endsto the spools and adapted to be Wound off one spool lon the other, a disc operatively connected with each spool,- a driven roller `movableto engage either disc, means `for holding the driven Vroller in engagement With one disc or the Aother to rotate the spool, means for causingthe roller to move'from one disc to the other to cause a reversal of .the direction of the vtape movement, vand means carried by the tape for actuating-said means 4last mentioned.

l0. AIn Aa ldevice of the class described, the combination of a housing, -a driven shaft therein, said shaft vbeingrevoluble about an axis While the connectionsby Which'it is 'driven are maintained, `a roller onfthe shaft, a pair of discs engaged by the-roller asf the shaftrevolves, a spool operatively connected With each disc, a tape connected at its ends tothe spools and adapted tolle-wound offene and upon the other, meansfor holdingthe shaft against-revolution With the roller engaging one disc, means for permitting the shaft to revolve and bring the roller into engagement with the otherdisc to reverse Vthe 'direction of tape movement,l and means carried by the talpefor-bringing said last named means into action.

ll. In a device of the class described, the combination of'ahousing, Va driven "shaft therein, said shaftbeing ievoluble aboutf-an axis While=the connectionslby vvhich it is drivenaremaintained, a' roller on the shaft, :a pair'of discs engaged by the roller as the shaft revolves, av spool operatively connected Withieach disc, a tape connected Yat its-ends tothe spools and ladapted to be Wound o one and upon the other, astop-forieach spool and operable to hold the shaft against vrevolution With the roller in contact with that spool, and means'for momentarily rendering one stop inoperative to permitt-he shaft to revolve land bringthe-roller into contact 'With the other disc.

:12. In a 'device of the class described, the combination ofva'housing, a driven vshaft therein, saidshaft being revoluble about an axis While the connectionsby which it is 'driven lare maintained, afroller on. the-shaft, a pair of 'discs engaged' by theroller asithe V'shaft revolves, aspool operatively connected with leach disc, a tape connected at its ends tol 'the spools-and: adapted to be Wou'ndi off one and upon the other, a stop 'foreachspool and operable to' hold the shaft against revolution Withthe roller in contactrtvith ithat spool, and' means actuated by the tapemoveinent for momentarily rendering one stop inoperative to perm-it the-shaft to revolve and vbring the roller into contact with the-other disc.

13. In a device of the class described, the

Ycombination ofua housing, a driven shaft Within the housing carrying a gear, a second shaft Within'the housing carrying `a loosely mounted gear driven by the first gear, a bracket fast on the second shaft caryrying a loosely 4mounted auxiliary shaft. a

gearfast on the auxiliary shaftdriven by theloose gear onl the second shaft1a roller on the auxiliary shaft, =a .pair of spindles carrying discs,v spools ont the spindles, a'tape Iconnected at its ends to the spools v,and

adapted to be' Wound from one to the other, and means for holding-.the bracket against movement.Withltheroller` engaging one of `the discs to Windl the'tapeon the spindle carrying said* disc.

14. In a device of the classy described, the

combination vof :a housing, a driven shaft Within the housing Acarrying a gear, `a second shaft Within the housing carry-ing a loosely *mounted gear driven by the first gear, a bracket fast on the' second'shaft-carrying a'loosely mounted-auxiliary shaft, a

lfgearlfast on.the .auxiliary shaft Kdrivenby the loose gear onithesecond` shaft, a Vroller onthe auxiliary shaftya pair of spindles #carrying discs, spoolsrron1 the spindles, axtape connected at its ends tothe spools .and adapted to' behvvoundlfroin lone tothe other, a stop -foreach spindle adapted'tohold the bracket againsty movement withI thev roller engag- -ing the disc on' that spindle, :and-:means `actuated by lthe 'itape movement fon-momentarily rendering. one of the `stops inoperative to permit Vthe rollerto-m'ove to and: engage vtheother disc.

15. In a device of theclass described,.the combination of a housinghaving an aperture,a (drive-n shaft Withinthehousing carrying a gear, a second "shaft loosely mounted inial support, asgear loose on'the shaft meshing-lwith'the'first gear, a bracket fast fon the second -Vshaft carrying a loosely mounted auxiliary shaft carrying a .gear drivenby'the second gear, a 'roller on the auxiliary shaft, va Vcircular disc having a Aflanged edge'adapted tobe engaged and traveisedby said roller to cause a rotation of thesecon'd shaft, apertures in the flanged edge ofthefdisc, aipair of--spindles having discs extending into sai'dnapertures,spools on the spindles, a tape' connected at its ends tothe spolsandvadaptedto be Woundffrom one tothe other, vand means foreach spindle for'holding the bracketfagainst movement vWith'the rollerl engaging the disc through one ofthe apertures.

"16.In a device of the class described,`the combination ofza housing having anaperture, aI drivenshaft vWithinl thev housing carrying a gear, a .second shaft loosely mounted in a support, a gear loose on the shaft meshing with the first gear, a bracket fast on the second shaft carrying a loosely mounted auxiliary shaft carrying a gear driven by the second gear, a roller on the auxiliary shaft, a circular disc having a flanged edge adapted to be engaged and traversed by said roller to cause a rotation of the second shaft, aper` tures in the iianged edge of the disc, a pair of spindles having discs extending into said apertures, spools on the spindles, a tape connected at its ends to the spools and adapted to be wound from one to the other, guides for directing the tape across the aperture in two stretches, a curtain for concealing one of the stretches, a stop for each spindle adapted to hold the bracket against move' ment with the roller engaging and driving the disc associated with that stop, means for releasing the stop and permitting the roller to traverse the anged edge of the circular disc to engage the other disc through the aperture in said edge, and means actuated when the stop is released for moving the curtain.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housing having an aperture, a driven shaft within the housing carrying a gear, a second shaft loosely mounted in a support, a gear loose on the shaft meshing with the first gear, a bracket fast on the second shaft carrying a loosely mounted auxiliary shaft carrying a gear driven by a second gear, a roller on the auxiliary shaft, a circular disc having a flanged edge adapted to be engaged and traversed by said roller to cause a rotation of the second shaft, apertures in the flanged edge of the disc, a pair of spindles having discs extending into said ape-rtures, spools on the spindles, a tape connected at its ends to the spools and adapted to be wound from one to the other, guides for directing the tape across the aperture in two stretches, a curtain for concealing one of the stretches, a stop for each spindle adapted to hold the bracket against movement with the roller engaging and driving the disc associated with that stop, means actuated by the tape for releasing the stop and permitting the roller to traverse the fianged edge of the circular disc until held by the other stop in engagement with the other disc through the aperture in said flanged edge, and means actuated by the traversing movement of said roller for moving the curtain to conceal the other strip.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS ALLATTE 

